Church Crookham: Army Welfare Service Give Us a Hand

 

Information provided by South East HIVE Hub

Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust: Latest round of grants under The Armed Forces Families Fund - Early Years Programme

The Early Years programme is back for 2025 and we’re excited to share that applications are now open!

Part of the MOD’s Armed Forces Families Fund (AF3), The Early Years Programme will award grants between £5,000 and £80,000 towards projects that enable early childhood education and childcare settings to meet specific needs of young service children.

What’s the programme all about?

The Early Years programme is designed to help Armed Forces families access good quality early childhood education and childcare provision close to where they live or serve.

The programme is designed to address barriers that service families may experience in accessing good quality childcare for their preschool aged children and will support projects lasting up to two years that can meet one of the four outcomes:

• Expanded capacity in early years settings, allowing more service children to attend.
• Enhanced learning environments that better support the educational development of service children.
• Improved staff skills and knowledge through targeted training and professional development.
• Establishing collaborative networks and shared resources through clusters to effectively address the needs of service children.

Dorset: Local childcare and family services

 

Image: Dorset county council 

Do you need information on child-minders and childcare facilities in your area or have a child with SEND and need support or information? Click HERE

Information provided by Bovington HIVE

Vale of Glamorgan: New Resource - Education for your child with additional needs

Information from the Vale Family Information Service:

The Index Officer in coordination with partners has produced an Index bespoke resource for families and professionals.

‘What you need to consider when thinking about Education for your child with additional needs in the Vale of Glamorgan’.

This resource provides a great deal of information for parents and carers who have a child with emerging needs or received a diagnosis, helping them navigate their child’s early years journey to transition. It explores alternative learning options available in the Vale, equipping parents with the knowledge to discuss alternatives if needed. It highlights the support out there in terms of peer support/groups, and knowing what questions to ask when visiting schools.

Bilingual Digital Flipbook Version

Accessible PDF Version

Email: theindex@valeofglamorgan.gov.uk

Telephone: 0800 587 1014

Information provided by Wales HIVE Hub.

Childcare Works project starting on 25th February 2025

Click poster to enlarge. 

To find out more, please see contact details on the poster or visit: Wales Childcare Works project - NDNA Cymru.

Bovington: Nursery school for ages 3 months to pre-school

 

For children aged 3 months to pre-school

OPEN 50 weeks of the year.

08.00 – 18.00 Monday – Thursday

08.00 – 15.00 on Fridays.

Bovington Nursery is located at

Linsay Road  (near to the Tank Museum) BH20 6JG

Tel 01929 403602

E-Mail office@bovingtonnursery.co.uk

Click link HERE for website 

Information provided by Bovington HIVE

Grantham: Lincolnshire Children's Centres Best Start - Lincolnshire BME Inclusion Service

Working with BME families, supporting parents and their children's integration within the community and helping them in accessing local services. For more detailed information email:

pabced@pablanguages.co.uk

Information provided by Grantham HIVE

 

Grantham: Considering starting a family?

Copies of DadPad available in the HIVE

Information provided by Grantham HIVE

 

Kent County Council: Support for new parents who want to quit smoking

Are you a new parent who wants to quit smoking? 

The KCC Smokefree Team has launched a pilot to support parents with a baby under twelve-weeks old with:

- home visits from a specialist adviser

- access to prescription products to help you quit including a free e-cigarette starter kit.

Click HERE for more information

Information provided by South East HIVE Hub

Surrey: funded childcare in Surrey

From April 2024, funded early education will be expanding. By September 2025, most working families with children under the age of 5 will be entitled to 30 hours of childcare support. 

The new entitlements will be introduced in phases: 

- From April 2024, eligible working parents of 2 year olds can access 15 hours funded early education and childcare (over 38 weeks a year) from the term after their child's 2nd birthday

- From September 2024, eligible working parents of children aged 9 months up to 3 year olds can access 15 hours funded early education and childcare (over 38 weeks a year) from the term following their child turning 9 months

Bicester: tower treasures baby and toddler group - every Thursday during termtime

Baby and toddler drop-in group ages 0-4. Play, enjoy refreshments, stories, songs and a chat! The Parish Room, St Michael at the North Gate, termtime Thursdays 1000-1145hrs. 

Click HERE for more information.

Information provided by South East HIVE Hub.

Hampshire: Home Start support for military families

 

Home Start volunteers help families with children age 0-11 years deal with the challenges they face. They support parents (including military families) to learn to cope, improve their confidence and build better lives for their children.

Click on the QR code to access further information of other areas of support that Home Start can help with.

Information provided by South East HIVE Hub

Shorncliffe: Army Welfare Service SANO NANEE Home Start Shorncliffe Community Centre Parent & Toddler Group Every Monday from 1000 - 1130hrs

 

Information Provided by South East HIVE Hub

Aldershot: Garrison Community Hub military families stay and play every Monday 1300-1630hrs

 

Information provided by South East HIVE Hub

Surrey: become a registered childminder

Are you considering becoming a registered childminder and would like to find out more?

A registered childminder is a person who looks after one or more children for more than a total of two hours a day in their own home. They are registered and inspected by Ofsted. 

Surrey County Council are committed to supporting childminders to provide high quality childcare and early years education. Our 'Becoming a Registered Childminder' (BaRC) training is made up of two face-to-face full day sessions, delivered over two consecutive weeks, for those interested in joining the childminding profession. 

The training covers the legislation and implications of caring for other people's children in a home environment to ensure that children are safe, well cared for and take part in activities that contribute to their learning and development. 

The training also details your statutory duties as set out in the Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage.

Click HERE for more information

Information provided by South East HIVE Hub

Wraparound Childcare (WAC) Overseas launched 6 Jan 25

 
Are you ready to register?

Great news for Service families assigned to locations within the European Economic Area & Switzerland (EEA&S) or using Defence Children Services (DCS) before and after school childcare provision. WAC Overseas is now available to eligible families in these areas from today (6 January 2025).

What is Wraparound Childcare funding?

The Wraparound Childcare (WAC) scheme provides funding for up to 20 hours per week, per child, during term time (39 weeks), to eligible Service families with children aged 4 to 11 years old (4-16 years old if receiving Government disability allowances) who are in full time education in school or being home educated. Over 7,000 Service children's before and after school childcare is currently being funded by WAC in the UK.

WAC Overseas mirrors the WAC scheme in the UK, it is a reimbursement from Defence to Service personnel of up to 80% of the costs of before and after school childcare. Capped hourly rates apply and can be found in 2022DIN01-079-Defence Wraparound Childcare Allowance. The remaining 20% is claimed from HMRC via an active Tax-Free Childcare account. WAC funding does not provide childcare spaces, it is funding for costs incurred when eligible families pay for before and after school childcare.

Vale of Glamorgan: Childcare Offer for Wales

Are you the parent or carer of a pre-school child aged 3-4? Are you working or studying, and looking for help with your childcare costs?

If you are you may be eligible for the Childcare Offer, which provides eligible parents with up to 30 hours of funded early education and childcare per week.

Parents in receipt of certain benefits such as carers allowance, or those relating to incapacity for work may also be eligible*

Additional funding may also be available for children who require additional support to access their childcare setting**

For more information please contact the team on 03000 628628 or email childcareoffer@valeofglamorgan.gov.uk

*terms and conditions apply
**subject to referral and eligibility assessment

Grantham: The Incredible Years Toddler Programme

Information provided by Grantham HIVE

 

Scotland: Enquire, the Scottish Advice Service for additional support for learning 'Moving to Scotland Guide'

Moving to a new country and education system can be a worrying and busy time for families with a child with additional support needs.

Enquire have explained the key information you need if your family is moving to Scotland. This includes how education and support work in Scotland, and what you can do to help get everything arranged for your child’s move.

To read the guide 👉 enquire.org.uk

Information provided by Leuchars HIVE

Winchester - Home-Start Family Groups

Information provided by South East HIVE Hub